Apparatus for the control of type printing sequences

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for controlling type printing sequences of manually actuatable, power-driven typwriters and similar machines having type printing mechanisms and key levers, including a plurality of releasably mounted intermediate members, each of which is movable between a rest mode and a release mode and arranged to actuate an associated type printing mechanism when its respective key lever is depressed. Each intermediate member has a spring member biasing it toward a ball block, into which one released member at a time may drop. When an intermediate member is released while another intermediate member is in the ball block, the biasing force of the released intermediate member supplied by its spring member holds it in storage until the ball block is cleared.

niteel States Fatent [1 1 R131 et a1.

[11] 3,759,360 i ]*Sept. 18, 1973 1 AHARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF TYPEPRINTING SEQUENCES [75] Inventors: Albert Rix, Wilhelmshaven; GeorgWerner, Heidmuhle; Hans Euchs, Wilhelmshaven, all of Germany [73]Assignee: Glympia Werlre A.G.,

Wilhelmshaven, Germany [21] Appl. No.: 40,514

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3,086,635 4/1963 Palmer 197/162,236,413 3/1941 Pirnat et al. 197/107 1,932,914 10/1933 Shelton et al197/16 X 1,963,285 6/1934 Woodward 197/17 3,152,759 10/1964 May 197/98UX 3,181,680 5/1965 Cappotto et al. 197/17 3,191,740 6/1965 Smusz et al197/16 3,353,646 ll/1967 Young 197/16 Primary Examiner-Ernest T. Wright,Jr. Attorney-Spencer & Kaye [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for controllingtype printing sequences of manually actuatable, power-driven typwritersand similar machines having type printing mechanisms and key levers,including a plurality of releasably mounted intermediate members, eachof which is movable between a rest mode and a release mode and arrangedto actuate an associated type printing mechanism when its respective keylever is depressed. Each intermediate member has a spring member biasingit toward a ball block, into which one released member at a time maydrop. When an intermediate member is released while another intermediatemember is in the ball block, the biasing force of the releasedintermediate member supplied by its spring member holds it in storageuntil the ball block is cleared.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 18, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1FIG] INVENTORS. Albert Rix Georg Werner Hons Fuchs BYy wuzi 2? ATTORNEYSPatented Sept. 18, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. I AlberT Rix GeorgWerner Hons Fuchs BY: 24

ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF TYPE PRINTING SEQUENCESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a devicefor the automatic control of the type printing sequence in manuallyoperated power-driven typewriters and similar office machines in whichintermediate members bring the type printing mechanism into theeffective range of the power drive by actuation of a key and cooperatewith a blocking member in such a manner that the type printing sequenceis entirely blocked when two keyboard pulses are given at exactly thesame time.

To produce a high average typing speed, it is necessary to mechanicallystore irregularly produced stroke sequences for the writing mechanism,to automatically call them out, and to adapt them to the machine speedso that no time delays can occur.

A device for a power driven typewriter, for example, is known in whichthe intermediate lever, which is associated with each typebar, has aprotrusion which engages a ball block. The ball block is disposed in thedirect effective range of thepower drive and can under certaincircumstances block the operating positions of the typebars, forexample, when two typebars have been actuated simultaneously. The ballblock is released to insure that an obstruction will not occur, but onlyafter initiation of the longitudinal movement of the intermediatelevers, so that a second stroke may follow after a substantial timeinterval. If this second stroke comes too soon, the intermediate leverrelated thereto can not fall into the blocking member, and the typingflow is substantially interfered with by this resistance. Only when theblocking member is once again released, can the intermediate lever byengaged and the blocking spring once again rendered effective. Theintermediate lever is then stored for the remainder of the machine playof a previously depressed key. This is not true storage, but, rather, atemporary storage which can become effective only when the blockingmember has already been released.

In addition, if during the longitudinal movement of an intermediatelever, two keys are struck in intermediate succession, it may happenthat the first actuated intermediate lever is still blocked, whereas theintermediate lever which has been actuated immediately thereafter isable to be engaged. The type printing sequences are then no longerinitiated in the proper sequence. These examples demonstrate some of thereasons why the above-mentioned device has not been found satisfactory.

A further device is known for typewriters in which the type printingsequences are also positively actuated in the proper sequences. If, inthis case, two keys are actuated in sequence, the drive lever firsttakes along 8 released hammer lever and causes the appropriate type tobe printed. A second hammer lever can, after the drive lever has alreadystarted to move for the accomplishment of the first stroke, fall behindthe drive lever into a prepared or storage position.

After the return of the drive lever, the prepared hammer leverengages,and the second type is caused to be printed.

The disadvantage here is that the second hammer lever may be actuatedonly after a substantial time interval during which the working bar haspassed through a certain angular range. This time interval depends onthe participating release members, the speed of the drive shaft for asingle-stroke coupling which releases the drive rails, and on themachine rhythm as a whole.

If this time interval is too short, two hammer levers fall into thedrive rail. The drive rail does start up, but is then stopped in itsmovement by two or more return springs acting against the drive spring.Moreover, an automatic blocking member is engaged which blocks thetypewriter.

A further disadvantage is that a third key can be actuated only when thedrive rail has actuated a first hammer lever and has brought a secondlever out of the above-mentioned angular range. For the high typingspeed required, and for unimpeded typing flow, the interval between afirst and the earliest possible third stroke is much too long to besatisfactory. No incorrect types are printed, but the typing speed isreduced when a plurality of irregular stroke sequences block the machinetoo often.

A further drawback of the known device is that the intermediate leversmust be moved into the block by manual force. This involves asubstantial amount of effort that required for manually actuatedmechanical typebar typewriters and far exceeding the required actuationforce for electrically driven typewriters. However, a uniform actuationforce which corresponds to that of electrically driven typewriters ishighly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a device for the automatic control of the type printingsequences in manually actuated, power-driven typewriters and similaroffice machines, which eliminates the above-described drawbacks andwhich makes possible a positively accurate sequence of the typeprinting; a genuine mechanical storage of two release pulses given inimmediate succession being possible.

This is accomplished according to the present invention in that at leastone releasably disposed intermediate member is under the influence of areleasable force; the release occurring by a pulse-type actuation of anappropriately associated key lever. The intermediate member thenautomatically falls into the blocking member to automatically controlthe type printing sequences and actuate them to'occur in the propersequence in a known manner, whereupon, it can be brought back into therest mode by a power drive.

Two intermediate members may therefore be charged directly in immediatesuccession; the first intermediate member being able to fall directlyinto the blocking member, whereas the second intermediate member isgenuinely stored and then automatically called out.

The intermediate member is placed into the blocking member, according tothe present invention, under the effect of a releasable force; theenergy required for the automatic control of the type printing sequencesbeing returned again when the intermediate member is reset by the powerdrive.

The above-mentioned drawbacks are eliminated by a further advantageousfeature of the present invention in that the intermediate members areprovided with blocking arms which engage in the blocking memberconfigured as a ball block, and by their configuration, influence thefunctioning of the individual typeprinting mechanisms in such a mannerthat during the course of one mechanism operation a second mechanism canbe inserted into the block to perform an overlapping operation and athird mechanism can be genuinely stored in waiting position.

A still further advantageous feature of the present invention is thatthe intermediate members each define control curves which have a basicengaging position and a storage position, so that a second actuationimmediately following a first actuation can be stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective, partlyschematic, partly crosssectional view of one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, on a much larger scale, of a portion ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view, partly in cross section, showing theball block of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, schematic view of a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As can be seen from FIGS. I and2, the first embodiment of the present invention has a plurality oftypebar actuating mechanisms, including a plurality of sub levers 2(only one of which is shown in FIG. I), which are mounted for pivotalmovement on a shaft 3 and are each biased by an appropriate spring 1.Shaft 3 is mounted in the housing of a machine such as a typewriter (notshown). Spring 1 may be, for example, a helical tension spring. Thelevers 2 are in operative connection with the type-bars 5 by means ofthe links 4. Only one typebar 5 and one link 4 are shown in FIG. 1. Alsomounted in the machine housing is a shaft 6, on which key levers 7 withkeys 8 are pivotally mounted. Only one key lever 7 and one key 8 areshown in FIG. 1, the others being omitted for clarity. Each key lever 7carries a release tongue .9, and each is biased by a suitable spring 10.The spring 10 may, for example, be a helical tension spring. Acomb-shaped member 70 is also provided with slots 70 for each key lever7 which serves as a stop for the pivotal movement of key levers 7.

The intermediate member is in the form of a lever 11 provided with aslot 11. The slot 11' is defined by a curved control surface 13 which inturn includes a basic detent portion 14, a storage detent portion and aninserted portion 15'. The storage detent portion 15 lies between theportions 14 and 15'. The lever 11 is mounted, as illustrated in FIG. 2,'on a shaft 12 passing through slot 11' and has as a result of themounting a basic detent position, a storage detent position and aninserted position. The basic detent position is achieved when the shaft12 is in engagement with the basic detent portion I4 of the surface 13,while the storage detent position is achieved when the shaft 12 is inengagement with the storage detent portion 15 and the inserted positionis achieved when the shaft 12 is in engagement with the inserted portion15'. The lever 11 also has an abutment surface 16, a control tongue 17,a blocking arm 18 and an abutment tongue 19. The function of each ofthese portions of lever 11 will be set out below.

A leaf spring comb 29 is provided which includes a number of laminatedsprings 2%. Each of the springs 28 is associated with a respective oneof the levers II in the machine. Only two springs 28 are shown in FIGS.3 and 2 for clarity. The leaf spring comb 29 is permanently connected tothe machine housing by suitable, well known means (not shown) and isarranged so that the end portion 28 of each spring 28 is in contact withthe abutment surface I6 ofa respective lever 11. Thus, the springs 28continuously bias the levers II.

The machine is provided with a transverse bar 37. When the abutmenttongue 119 of the lever 11 encounters the transverse bar 37, theclockwise rotation (FIG. 2) of the lever 11 is terminated. From thisposition, the lever Ill will be restored to its rest position, and as aresult the spring 28 in engagement therewith will be pretensioned.

A cam member 20 is rotatably mounted on each lever 2, two cam members 20being shown in FIG. 2. The cam member 20 is provided with a drive camsurface 21 and a curved control surface 22 bearing contact points 23, 24(FIG. 2).

A known ball block 31 with a plurality of balls 25 (FIG. 3) is,moreover, disposed in the machine housing in a guide member 32. Theplurality of balls 25 assembled in a row is held in a center operatingposition by a pair of coil springs 26 and 27 one at each end of the row.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above,but can be modified by appropriate changes in the individual features.For example, FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment in which the presentinvention is used with longitudinally displaceable coding interposers34. Only one interposer 34 is shown in FIG. 4. Bails 35 are charged bythese coding interposers 34 to initiate the appropriate setting of aknown, single element printing head (not shown) Each interposer 34includes a slot 34' through which a mounting pin 40 in inserted formounting each interposer 34 for pivotal and translational movement withrespect thereto. A spring 42 is fastened at 42' to the machine and at42" to the interposer 34. The spring 42 biases the interposer 34 againstthe stop pin 41 and the mounting pin 40. Each interposer 34 is furtherprovided with cam surfaces 39 which engage with the surface 24' of alever 46 with an effect to be described hereinafter.

The lever 46 is, with the exception of a notch portion 46, which engagesa pin 44in the rest position shown in FIG. 4, similar to lever 11, thatis, reference numerals Ill", l6, 17', 18', 19, 24' and 30' refer toportions on lever 46 which are similar to the portions referred to byreference numerals 11', 16, 17, l8, 19, 24 and 30 on lever 11.

The present invention can be employed and applied whereever irregular,manually applied pulses are to be positively transmitted in the correctsequence.

MODE OF OPERATION When a first key 8 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. Iand 2 is depressed, the respective key lever 7 is pivoted in theclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 until the release tongue 9 pressesdirectly against abutment edge 30 of its respective lever 11,hereinafter referred to as the first lever l I. since it is associatedwith the first key 8 to be depressed. The tongue 9 releases the leverII, that is it urges the first lever 11 from its basic detent position,or rest mode, where the shaft 12 is in engagement with the portion 14,into its storage detent position, with the aid of the force exerted bythe respective spring 28 on abutment surface 16 of the lever 11. Sincethe ball block 31 is free to permit the entry of the blocking arm 18 ofthe first lever 11, the first lever 11 falls into its actuated orinserted position, where the shaft 12 is in engagement with the portion15', as shown in FIG. 2.

Once the tongue 9 has moved the lever 11 out of its basic, or rest,detent position, it moves out of contact with the lever 11, so that thetwo levers 7 and 11 will have already separated from one another whenthe lever 11 moves into the ball block 31. Only when the blocking arm 18of the lever 11 does enter the ball block 31 will the associated cammember 20 be moved into the effective range of the power roll 36. Thisis caused by the movement of control tongue 17 to the left (FIG. 2),while that tongue bears against contact point 24 of control surface 22,so as to rotate cam 20 into engagement with power roll 36.

The power roll drive 36 acts on the drive cam surface 21 of cam 20 so asto rotate cam 20 counterclockwise and pivot lever 2 about shaft 3. Thelever 2 pivots in a clockwise direction, which pulls link 4 and causesthe respective typebar 5 to print its particular character. As cam 20continues to rotate under the influence of powerroll 36, the cam surface22 moves the abutment tongue 19 of the intermediate lever' 11 againstthe transverse bar 37 and thereafter back to its rest mode and thusautomatically retensions spring 28. Thus, by means of a pulse-typeactuation of a key lever 7, lever 11 is automatically placed into theball block 31. The spring suspension, 26, 27, on both sides of the ballblock 31 has the advantage that the insertion of the levers 11 is alwaysdone with the same force; the same number of balls 25 alwaysbeingdisplaced.

Now, if directly after an initial key acutation, a second key lever 7 isactuated, a second lever 11 is put into its released mode. Thus secondlever 11 is urged against the ball block 31 and is in fact stored. Thatis, the blocking arm 18 of the second lever 11 does not move into theball block 31 between two balls 25, but, rather, moves out of its basicdetent position to a position where the shaft 12 engages the storagedetent portion 15, with the lever 11 under the influence of itsrespective spring 28. When the ball block 31 is released or disengagedby the movement of the blocking arm 18 of the first lever 11 out frombetween the balls 25, the blocking arm 18 of the second,'or stored,lever 11, due to the force of its respective spring 28, automaticallymoves in between a pair of the balls 25. The type printing cycle set outabove is then repeated.

With the particular configuration of the blocking arm 18 shown in thedrawing, it is possible to act on the functional development of theindividual mechanisms in such a manner that during the movement of onemechanism a second mechanism can already be actuated to perform itsoverlapping movement. Further, a third mechanism may be actuated as soonas the lever 11 of the first mechanism has cleared the ball block 31.

If two levers 11 are actuated at exactly the same time, however, theball block 31 becomes effective in such a manner that neither blockingarm 18 of the respective levers 11 can move between the balls 25, and notype printing occurs. An unscrambling rail 33 (FIG. 2) is then actuatedby means of a special key (not shown), which is well known in the art,to bring those levers 11 in the storage position back into their basicdetent position.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 operates in the manner described above, exceptthat the type printing is carried out in a different manner. When alever 7 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is pivoted in the clockwisedirection, the blocking arm 18' of the lever 46 moves into the ballblock 31 of which only one ball 25 is shown for clarity. Only when'theblocking arm 18' does enter the ball block 31 will the correspondinginterposer 34 be moved in a counter-clockwise direction through theengaged surfaces 24 and 39. Each interposer 34 is provided with a uniquecombination of projections such as the projections 38 which areengageable with a corresponding combination of bails such as shown at35. The rocking of different combinations of bails 35 is effectivethrough a further mechanism, (not shown herein), to appropriately orienta single head printing element for selection of a character to beprinted. 7

It will be understood that the above description of the presentinvention is susceptible to various modifications, changes andadaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for controlling the type printing se- I quences ofmanually actuatable, power-driven typewriters and similar machineshaving type printing mechanisms and key levers, comprising, incombination: I

a. a plurality of releasably mounted intermediate members, each having acurved control surface and each movable between a rest position, astorage position and a released position, said storage position beingintermediate said rest position and said released position, each saidmember being movable from its rest position to its storage position upondepression of its respective key lever, each of said intermediatemembers being operatively associated with a respective type printingmechanism when in its released position; mounting means engageable witheach control surface for mounting said plurality of intermediatemembers; a blocking member mounted with respect to said plurality ofintermediate members so that only one of said intermediate members at atime can move to its released position within said blocking member toactuate its respective type printing mechanism while permitting anintermediate member whose key lever is subsequently depressed to remainin its said storage position; and I d. releasable force means mounted inassociation with each intermediate member for biasing each intermediatemember towards said blocking member and cooperating with said mountingmeans to automatically 'cause any intermediate member which is in itsstorage position to move relative to said mounting means along itsrespective control surface from its storage position toward its releasedposition when said blocking member is free of any other intermediatemember and maintaining any intermediate member whose key lever isdepressed, while a previously actuated intermediate member is in itsreleased position, in said storage position until such previouslyactuated intermediate member is moved from its released position.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said releasable forcemeans are placed in a state for biasing by the return of eachintermediate member to its rest position.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said releasable forcemeans is constituted by a plurality of pretensioned spring members whichare each mounted to be in operative contact with a portion of arespective one of said intermediate members, the pretensioning of saidspring members occurring positively when said intermediate membersreturn to their rest position.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said intermediatemembers is provided with a slot within which said curved control surfaceis formed.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said blocking membercomprises a ball block having a plurality of balls retained in a rowhaving two ends, and further including means for resiliently supportingthe row of balls at both ends to fix the balls in a center operatingposition.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said intermediatemembers define a blocking arm shaped to extend between adjacent balls ofsaid ball block to actuate an associated type printing mechanism whenthe respective key lever is depressed, so that while a firstintermediate member is moving toward its rest position, a secondintermediate member can already be inserted into the ball block foroverlapping actuation and a third intermediate member can be stored inits released position. I

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said intermediate membersare actuated directly by their respective key lever and are separatedfrom their resepctive key lever when their blocking arm falls betweentwo of the balls in said ball block.

. UMTED STATES PATENT v CERTIFICATE 0F CQRREUHQN J Patent No. 3,759 ,360Dated Sep tember 13th, l2 2} Albert Rix, Georg Werner and Hans ,Fuchs Itis certified that error appears in the'above -ident ified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: In theheading of the patent, line 4, change the third inventors last name to--Fuchs- Column 2 line23,- before "that" insert -equaling. Column 5,line 19, delete "drive";

line 37, change "Thus" to --This-, Column 7, line 1, change ".9" to-"l-. V

: Signed and sealed this 12th day of March 1974. v

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60876-P69 guls GOVERNMENTrnnn'ms OFFICE-:19! o-au-au,

1. An apparatus for controlling the type printing sequences of manuallyactuatable, power-driven typewriters and similar machines having typeprinting mechanisms and key levers, comprising, in combination: a. aplurality of releasably mounted intermediate members, each having acurved control surface And each movable between a rest position, astorage position and a released position, said storage position beingintermediate said rest position and said released position, each saidmember being movable from its rest position to its storage position upondepression of its respective key lever, each of said intermediatemembers being operatively associated with a respective type printingmechanism when in its released position; b. mounting means engageablewith each control surface for mounting said plurality of intermediatemembers; c. a blocking member mounted with respect to said plurality ofintermediate members so that only one of said intermediate members at atime can move to its released position within said blocking member toactuate its respective type printing mechanism while permitting anintermediate member whose key lever is subsequently depressed to remainin its said storage position; and d. releasable force means mounted inassociation with each intermediate member for biasing each intermediatemember towards said blocking member and cooperating with said mountingmeans to automatically cause any intermediate member which is in itsstorage position to move relative to said mounting means along itsrespective control surface from its storage position toward its releasedposition when said blocking member is free of any other intermediatemember and maintaining any intermediate member whose key lever isdepressed, while a previously actuated intermediate member is in itsreleased position, in said storage position until such previouslyactuated intermediate member is moved from its released position.
 2. Anapparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said releasable force means areplaced in a state for biasing by the return of each intermediate memberto its rest position.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid releasable force means is constituted by a plurality ofpretensioned spring members which are each mounted to be in operativecontact with a portion of a respective one of said intermediate members,the pretensioning of said spring members occurring positively when saidintermediate members return to their rest position.
 4. An apparatus asdefined in claim 3, wherein each of said intermediate members isprovided with a slot within which said curved control surface is formed.5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said blocking membercomprises a ball block having a plurality of balls retained in a rowhaving two ends, and further including means for resiliently supportingthe row of balls at both ends to fix the balls in a center operatingposition.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein each of saidintermediate members define a blocking arm shaped to extend betweenadjacent balls of said ball block to actuate an associated type printingmechanism when the respective key lever is depressed, so that while afirst intermediate member is moving toward its rest position, a secondintermediate member can already be inserted into the ball block foroverlapping actuation and a third intermediate member can be stored inits released position.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, whereinsaid intermediate members are actuated directly by their respective keylever and are separated from their resepctive key lever when theirblocking arm falls between two of the balls in said ball block.